1667 VINCENT, Thomas (1634 – 1678)
Gods terrible voice in the city of London wherein you have the narration of the two late dreadful judgements of plague and fire, inflicted by the Lord upon that city; the former in the year 1665. The latter in the year 1666
This edition of a plague tract by English puritan minister Thomas Vincent was the first medical or biological publication in North America. It was issued by printer Samuel Green, using a press in Cambridge, Massachuse…
GMN 6823 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8986
1672 JOSSELYN, John (1630 – 1675)
New-Englands rarities discovered: in birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, and plants of that country. Together with the physical and chyrurgical remedies wherewith the natives constantly use to cure their distempers, wounds, and sores…
The first detailed account of the natural history and botany of North America, including the first extensive study of native North American medicine.
GMN 1826.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/2138
1672 JOSSELYN, John (1630 – 1675)
New-Englands rarities discovered: In birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, and plants of that country. Together with the physical and chyrurgical remedies wherewith the natives constantly use to cure their distempers, wounds, and sores; also A perfect description of an Indian squa, in all her bravery, with a poem not improperly conferr'd upon her; lastly, a chronological table of the most remarkable passage in that country amongst the English.
Josselyn's books give some of the earliest and most complete information on New England flora and fauna in colonial times, and his outlook was later praised by Henry Thoreau, among others. Digital facsimile from Biodi…
GMN 13878 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/16168
1674 JOSSELYN, John (1630 – 1675)
An account of two voyages to New-England. Wherein you have the setting out of a ship, with the charges; The prices of all necessaries for furnishing a planter and his family at his first coming: a description of the countrey [sic], natives, and creatures; with their merchantil [sic] and physical use; the government of the countrey as it is now possessed by the English, &c. A large chronological table of the most remarkable passages, from the first discovering of the continent of America, to the year 1673.
Josselyn first visited America in 1638-39 and returned from 1663 to 1671. His second and more extensive book includes an herbal, with numerous botanical as well as medical and surgical descriptions, and is considered …
GMN 13261 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15527
1677 THACHER, Thomas (1620 – 1678)
A brief rule to guide the common-people of New-England how to order themselves and theirs in the small pocks, or measels.
The first medical publication of North America and the only one to appear in the 17th century. Only one copy of the original printing of this broadside survived, written by Thacher, a Boston minister. The sheet was re…
GMN 5406 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/7256
1680 COUCH, Robert; PACKE, Christopher (1657 – 1708)
Praxis catholica: or the countryman's universal remedy wherein is plainly and briefly laid down the nature, matter, manner, place and cure of most diseases, incident to the body of man, not hitherto discovered, whereby any one of an ordinary capacity may apprehend the true cause of his distempers, wherein his cure consists, and the means to effect it : together with rules how to order children in that most violent disease of vomiting and looseness, &c. : useful likewise for seamen and travellers : also an account of an imcomparable powder for wounds or hurts which cure any ordinary ones at once dressing. Written by Robert Couch, sometime practitioner in physick and chyrurgery, at Boston in New-England. Now published with divers useful additions (for public benefit) by Chr. Pack, operator in chymistry.
The first medical book written in the British colonies of North America. The introduction, "To all ingenious students and practitioners in physick and chyrurgery", is signed Robert Couch, but the extent of additions i…
GMN 9698 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11885
1708 CULPEPER, Nicholas (1616 – 1654)
The English physician.
This reprint of Culpeper’s popular work on herbal remedies was the first medical book (94pp.) printed in North America.
GMN 1828.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/2155
1720 CULPEPER, Nicholas (1616 – 1654)
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis; or the London dispensatory…
The first herbal printed in North America, and the first full-length medical book published in North America. From the 1653 London edition.
GMN 1828.2 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/2160
1721 BOYLSTON, Zabdiel (1679 – 1766)
Some account of what is said of inoculating or transplanting the small pox by the learned Dr. Emmanuel Timonius, and Jacobus Pylarinus. With some remarks theron. To which are added, a few queries in answer to the scruples of many about the lawfulness of this method.
An abridgement of Nos. 5409 & 5410 together with Boylston’s remarks. From internal evidence this 24-page pamphlet would appear to be the first North American publication on inoculation. See No. 5415. Digital facsimile…
GMN 5410.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/7308
1721 COLMAN, Benjamin (1673 – 1747)
Some observations on the new method of receiving the smallpox by ingrafting or inoculating.
This work offers general support for the practice of Zabdiel Boylston, detailing some of Boylston’s cases, including accounts of occasions when patients died. Reprinted with additional material by Daniel Neal, as A na…
GMN 5411 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/7309
1722 DOUGLASS, William (1691 – 1752)
Inoculation of the smallpox as practised in Boston.
GMN 5412 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/7312
1722 DOUGLASS, William (1691 – 1752)
The abuses and scandals of some late pamphlets in favour of inoculation of the small-pox.
Douglass at first opposed inoculation for smallpox, but by 1730 he had changed his views and had become an advocate of inoculation.
GMN 5413 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/7315
1722 MATHER, Cotton (1663 – 1728)
An account of the method and success of inoculating the small pox in Boston in New England.
Mather republished reports of earlier writers on inoculation. He persuaded Boylston to adopt the practice in June 1721, and he supported Boylston during a period of great opposition to inoculation.
GMN 5414 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/7318
1734 TENNENT, John (1700 – 1760)
Every man his own doctor: or, The poor planter's physician. Prescribing plain and easy means for persons to cure themselves of all, or most of the distempers, incident to this climate, and with very little charge, the medicines being chiefly of the growth and production of this country.
The first medical hand-book for lay persons written and published in America. It is probable that this book was first published in 1734, though the earliest recorded copy or copies appear to be the "second edition" wi…
GMN 9675 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11862
1736 DOUGLASS, William (1691 – 1752)
The practical history of a new epidemical eruptive miliary fever, with an angina ulcusculosa, which prevailed in Boston New England in the years 1735 and 1736.
Douglass left the first adequate clinical description of scarlet fever, which he called angina ulcusculosa, in his account of New England’s first scarlet fever epidemic. He was one of the first American physicians to …
GMN 5076 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5925
1751 BARTRAM, John (1699 – 1777)
Descriptions, virtues, and uses of sundry plants of these northern parts of America, and particularly of the newly discovered Indian cure for the venereal disease.
Bartram founded one of the first botanical gardens in America (at Kingsessing). Linnaeus referred to him as the “greatest natural botanist in the world”. A few copies of this 7-page work printed by Benjamin Franklin w…
GMN 1832 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/2171
1751 BARTRAM, John (1699 – 1777); KALM, Pehr [Pietari; Peter] (1716 – 1779)
Observations on the inhabitants, climate, soil, rivers, productions, animals, and other matter worthy of notice. Made by Mr. John Bartram, in his travels from Pensilvania to Onondago, Oswego and the Lake Ontario, in Canada. To which is annex'd, a curious account of the cataracts at Niagara, by Mr. Peter Kalm....
Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.
GMN 7677 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9849
1753 –1761 KALM, Pehr [Pietari; Peter] (1716 – 1779)
En Resa til Norra America. 2 vols.
Between 1748 and 1749, Kalm, a Swedish naturalist and student of Linnaeus, traveled throughout northeast America, specifically in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Canada, surveying the countryside, an…
GMN 9923 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12111
1754 FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706 – 1790)
Some account of the Pennsylvania Hospital, from its first rise, to the beginning of the fifth month, called May 1754.
Franklin was a prime mover in establishing the Pennsylvania Hospital, the first permanent hospital built in the future United States. This publication included the text of most of the founding documents of the hospita…
GMN 7429 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9601
1754 CATESBY, Mark (1683 – 1749); EDWARDS, George (1693 – 1773)
The natural history of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants, particulary the forest trees, shrubs, and other plants, not hitherto described, or very incorrectly figured by authors. Together with their descriptions in English and French. To which are added, observations on the air, soil, and waters with remarks upon agriculture, grain, pulse, roots, &c. To the whole is prefixed a new and correct map of the countries treated of / by the late Mark Catesby; revised by Mr. [George] Edwards. 2 vols.
Second edition, edited by ornithologist George Edwards. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7678 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9850
1761 FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706 – 1790); RHOADS, Samuel (1711 – 1784)
Continuation of the account of the Pennsylvania Hospital, from the first of May 1754, to the fifth of May 1761.
Written in Franklin's absence, this continuation was printed in the same style and format as Franklin's 1761 work. Rhoads was an American architect who served as the 59th mayor of Philadelphia.
GMN 7430 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9602
1763 CLOSSY, Samuel (1724 – 1786)
Observations on some of the diseases of the parts of the human body. Chiefly taken from the dissections of morbid bodies.
Clossy, an Irish physician, previously at Trinity College, Dublin, gave the first anatomy classes and dissections at King’s College in New York City (now Columbia) in 1763. Clossy worked closely with other King’s Coll…
GMN 10989 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13185
1765 MORGAN, John (1735 – 1789)
A discourse upon the institution of medical schools in America.…
The first American publication on medical education. Morgan founded the first medical school in the United States, in connection with what is now the University of Pennsylvania.
GMN 1766.5 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3208
1767 CATESBY, Mark (1683 – 1749)
Hortus Europae americanus, or, A collection of 85 curious trees and shrubs: the produce of North America, adapted to the climates and soils of Great-Britain, Ireland, and most parts of Europe, &c together with their blossoms, fruits and seeds, observations on their culture, growth, constitution and virtues, with directions how to collect, pack up and secure them in their passage.
Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link. First published as Hortus Britanno-Americanus (1763).
GMN 7679 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9851
1769 BARD, Samuel (1742 – 1821)
A discourse upon the duties of a physician, with some sentiments, on the usefulness and necessity of a public hospital: Delivered before the president and governors of King's College, at the commencement, held on the 16th of May, 1769. As advice to those gentlemen who then received the first medical degrees conferred by that university.
The first American treatise on medical ethics, and the first treatise on medical ethics published in the English language. Samuel Bard was one of the founders of King’s College, New York. Digital facsimile from the Na…
GMN 1763 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3195
1770 RUSH, Benjamin (1745 – 1813)
Syllabus of a course of lectures on chemistry.
Rush inaugurated the first regular course of lectures on chemistry taught in America, at the College of Philadelphia. Includes much on pharmaceutical chemistry. Facsimile reprint with an introduction by L. H. Butterfi…
GMN 9204 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11385
1776 CHALMERS, Lionel (1715 – 1777)
An account of the weather and diseases of South-Carolina. 2 vols.
Originally published in the Gentleman’s Magazine, 1751-54.
GMN 1773 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3326
1784 –1787 PENNANT, Thomas (1726 – 1798)
Arctic zoology. 3 vols.
Pennant had "intended to write a "Zoology of North America" but as he explained in the "Advertisement", since he felt mortified by the loss of British control over America, this was changed to Arctic Zoology.[22] The …
GMN 11618 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13818
1785 MARSHALL, Humphrey (1722 – 1801)
Arbustrum Americanum: the American grove, or, an alphabetical catalogue of forest trees and shrubs…
Like his cousin, John Bartram (No. 1832), Marshall maintained a private botanical garden. According to W. Darlington the above work is “the first truly indigenous botanical essay published in the Western Hemisphere”. …
GMN 1836.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/2189
1787 SCHOEPFF, Johann David (1752 – 1800)
Materia medica Americana, potissimum regni vegetabilis.
Schoepff came to America in 1777 as a surgeon with the Hessian troops employed by the British Forces. He returned to Germany in 1784 and compiled the first full American materia medica, describing about 400 plants, in…
GMN 1837 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/2194
1787 LATHROP, John (1740 – 1816)
A Discourse before the Humane Society, ... Delivered on the Second Tuesday of June, 1787.
The first separate work on resuscitation published in the United States. A list of “Methods of Treatment to be used with Persons apparently dead from drowning, &c.” appears on p. iv; these methods included warming the…
GMN 7214 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9381
1790 GARDETTE, James (1756 – 1831)
Remarks on the diseases of the teeth.
The first "scientific" paper on dentistry to appear in an American periodical. Trained in France, Gardette accepted a commission as a surgeon in the French navy and went to America in 1778 when France sent her ships t…
GMN 3677.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5543
1790 CASTIGLIONI, Luigi (1757 – 1832)
Viaggio negli Stati Uniti dell' America settentrionale fatto negli anni 1785, 1786, e 1787. 2 vols.
Castiglioni was one of very few Italians to make the journey to America and to produce a detailed day-to-day account of his observations in the young country. His "Viaggio" is a systematic compendium of information dr…
GMN 11229 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13426
1791 BARTRAM, William (1739 – 1823)
Travels through North & South Carolina, George, East & West Florida, the Cherokee country, the extensive territories of the Muscogulges, or Creek confederacy, and the country of the Chactaws [sic]...
Digital facsimile of London, 1794 second edition from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7770 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9942
1791 UNITED STATES
Return of the whole number of persons with the several districts of the United States, according to "An Act Providing for the Enumeration of the Inhabitants of the United States," passed March the first, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one.
The first Census of the United States was conducted on August 2, 1790. The results were used to allocate Congressional seats (congressional apportionment), electoral votes, and funding for government programs.The fede…
GMN 8580 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10757
1792 CURRIE, William (1754 – 1828)
An historical account of the climates and diseases of the United States of America, and of the remedies and methods of treatment, which have been found most useful and efficacious, particularly in those diseases which depend upon climate and situation: collected pricipally from personal observation, and the communications of physicians of talents and experience, residing in the several states.
Digital facsimile from the Medical Heritage Library, Internet Archive, at this link.
GMN 1775 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3336
1797 SEAMAN, Valentine (1770 – 1817)
An inquiry into the cause of the prevalence of the yellow fever in New-York.
Includes four early plot maps; Seaman was one of the first to create maps that attempted to show the spread of contagious disease.
GMN 7687 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9859
1797 ABBOT, John (1751 – 1840); SMITH, Sir James Edward (1759 – 1828)
The natural history of the rarer lepidopterous insects of Georgia. Including their systematic characters, the particulars of their several metamorphoses, and the plants on which they feed. Collected from the observations of Mr. John Abbot, many years resident in that country, by James Edward Smith.
The earliest illustrated monograph on the butterflies and moths of North America. Text in English and French. 104 hand-colored plates. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7768 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9940
1798 PERKINS, Benjamin Douglas (1774 – 1810)
The influence of metallic tractors on the human body, in removing various painful inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatism, pleurisy, some gouty affections, &c. &c: Lately discovered by Dr. Perkins, of North America; and demonstrated in a series of experiments and observations....by which the importance of the discovery is fully ascertained, and a new field of enquiry opened in the modern science of Galvanism, or animal electricity
In 1795 Dr. Elisha Perkins (1741-1799) of Connecticut introduced the use of “Metallic Tractors” for the treatment of a wide range of disorders, including pains in the head, face, teeth, breast, side, stomach, back, rh…
GMN 8654 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10831
1798 BARTON, Benjamin Smith (1766 – 1815)
Collections for an essay towards a materia medica of the United States. Read before the Philadelphia Medical Society, on the twenty-first of February, 1798.
Digital facsimile of the 1798 edition from the U.S. National Library of Medicine at this link. Digital facsimile of the much-expanded third edition (1810) from Google Books at this link.
GMN 9309 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11491
1799 BARTON, Benjamin Smith (1766 – 1815)
Fragments of the Natural History of Pennsylvania. Part First [All Published].
This 24-page pamphlet is the first work by an American devoted entirely to American birds. It deals predominantly with migratory birds, arranged according to the dates throughout the year 1791 in which they were first…
GMN 7218 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9386
1801 STEARNS, Samuel (1741 – 1810)
The American herbal, or materia medica.
The first herbal both produced and printed in the United States, as opposed to those which were reprints of European works. Includes information on native American remedies. Digital facsimile from the Medical Heritage…
GMN 1838.2 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/2218
1801 SKINNER, Richard Cortland ( – 1834)
A treatise on the human teeth, concisely explaining their structure and cause of disease and decay.
First American book on the teeth, a pamphlet of 26pp. It was intended for the lay public and listed sound rules of oral hygiene, explained the nature of dental diseases and their treatment, and stressed preventive mai…
GMN 3678 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5545
1802 COXE, John Redman (1773 – 1864)
Practical observations on vaccination: or inoculation for the cow pock.
Coxe did much to destroy ignorant prejudice against vaccination; he was the first in Philadelphia to practice it. Like Waterhouse, he inoculated his own child as his first case.
GMN 5425 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/7362
1803 BARTON, Benjamin Smith (1766 – 1815)
Elements of botany, or outlines of the natural history of vegetables.
The first American textbook of botany. Digital facsimile of the revised 1804 London edition from the Hathi Trust at this link.
GMN 9310 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11492
1803 PEALE, Charles Willson (1741 – 1827)
An epistle to a friend, on the means of preserving health, promoting happiness; and prolonging the life of man to its natural period. Being a summary view of inconsiderate and useless habits that derange the system of nature, thereby causing premature old age and death : with some thoughts on the best means of preventing and overcoming disease.
Written by the first great American painter. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 10445 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12638
1803 MICHAUX, André (1746 – 1802); REDOUTÉ, Pierre-Joseph (1759 – 1840)
Flora Boreali-Americana, sistens caracteres plantarum quas in America septentrionali collegit et detexit Andreas Michaux, Instituti Gallici Scientiarum, necnon Societatis Agriculturae Caroliniensis socius. Tabulis Aeneis 51 ornata [after Pierre-Joseph Redouté]. 2 vols.
"The French government sent Michaux to the United States to collect North American seeds, shrubs, and trees ; he landed at New York City on 1 October, accompanied by his son [François-André Michaux] and a gardener. In…
GMN 12399 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/14629
1804 PHYSICK, Philip Syng (1768 – 1837)
A case of fracture of the os humeri, in which the broken ends of the bone not uniting the usual manner, a cure was effected by means of a seton.
The first paper on orthopedic surgery published in the United States. Physick introduced the use of the seton in the treatment of ununited fractures.
GMN 4409.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/6169
1807 BARD, Samuel (1742 – 1821)
A compendium of the theory and practice of midwifery.
First significant textbook on obstetrics written by an American. Bard gave an excellent description of the mechanism of labor, and of pre-eclampsia. Woodcut illustrations were engraved by American physician and illust…
GMN 6163.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/7749
1807 EWELL, James (1773 – 1832)
The planter's and mariner's medical companion: treating, according to the most successful practice, I. The diseases common to warm climates and on ship board. II. Common cases in surgery, as fractures, dislocations, &c. &c. III. The complaints peculiar to women and children. To which are subjoined a dispensatory, shewing how to prepare and administer family medicines, and a glossary giving an explanation of technical terms.
Ewell, then practicing in Savannah, Georgia, wrote this self-help book for southern residents, directing his book toward plantation owners. It was "the constant friend of a large number of slave-masters. In emergencie…
GMN 7049 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9216
